Heavier traffic as bridge rehab slated next week

Even if Feb. 25 is a school holiday, motorists heading to the Mactan Cebu International Airport or reporting to work are advised to leave at least an hour earlier.

On that date the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will start its rehabilitation of the first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge which involves closing one lane for motorists coming from Lapu-Lapu City and heading to Mandaue City.

Rehabilitation work on both the Mandaue Mactan bridge and the Marcelo Fernan bridge was approved last Wednesday by the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB).

“We didn’t intend to start the work on Feb. 25 but it’s a good thing that it was declared a school holiday by the President,” Engr. Renault Ricardo, DPWH asst. district engineer, said

February 25 marks the 17th anniversary of the first Edsa People Power Revolution.

This week, Ricardo said they will start issuing traffic advisories along United Nations Avenue Street, Ouano Street and Plaridel Street among others.

In the MCBMB meeting, the DPWH presented its 90 day rehabilitation work schedule which consists of repairing the damaged pavements of the two bridges.

Adjust schedules

Ricardo said letters were already sent to stakeholders including Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza.

On the first day of rehabilitation work, one lane from Lapu-Lapu going to Mandaue City will be closed starting 9 a.m.

DPWH will be closely coordinating with the City Traffic Management System (CTMS) headed by Frank Brazil and Traffic Enforcement Agency in Mandaue (TEAM) headed by Edwin Ermac.

“The contractor will repair one lane at a time,” Ricardo said.

During the repair of the lane from Lapu-Lapu going to Mandaue, Ricardo said the other lane will be opened to the motorists heading to the airport and their respective offices.

Ricardo advised those with flights on that day to leave earlier in order to avoid traffic congestion while businessmen were also advised to adjust their schedules accordingly.

Brazil said they asked the contractor to deploy personnel on the bridge to help guide the motorists with the traffic flow during the repair.

24/7

Brazil said traffic personnel will be deployed at the foot of the two bridges, especially in the Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge while the first bridge is being repaired.

Ermac said he will finalize the route scheme for Mandaue City after meeting with the DPWH officials this week.

He also advised motorists going to the airport to take the route in Marcelo B. Fernan bridge.

Ricardo said the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge rehabilitation cost P20 million while the rehabilitation costs on the Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge is pegged at P27 million. Both projects were awarded to PLD Construction.

The old asphalt on the 862 meters long Mandaue-Mactan Bridge will be scraped while the four rusted joints will be replaced.

Engr. Eda De Guzman, DPWH project engineer said they will work on the rehabilitation 24/7.

“We will entirely close the bridge one lane of the old bridge for 2-3 days while the vehicles going to Mandaue will be passing Marcelo B Fernan Bridge,” de Guzman said.

Earlier than scheduled

Once repairs on the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge are completed, de Guzman said they will immediately repair the two rubber joints of the Fernan bridge.

De Guzman said they may finish their work ahead of schedule if there is good weather.

Another 10 asphalting and concreting projects will be started by the DPWH starting next week in Mandaue City.

The overlaying of asphalt and concreting will be done at night to avoid traffic congestion.

The projects will start before the election ban on March 29, 2013, Ricardo said. /Jucell Marie P. Cuyos, Reporter